When you were little, and a neighbor kid bullied you, you might have shut the window close on one side of your house that faced his. What did that say about you? Depends on how you were connected to them, and what changed.

How does that translate to the digital world we live in today -

What does it take for you to unfriend or block someone, in my opinion, has to speak a lot about your level of tolerance. Its one thing to block someone who bothered you, changed over time, or just wasn't a positive force in your life - and I'm not referring to that.What I'm referring to is, a situation where you have invested significant time and feelings to know about someone, to an extent that you know them inside out. You kept them in your life, stayed close, and chose to spend time, because you cared about them (doesn't need to be a friend or a date, could just be an acquaintance who you grew into knowing better). Now, ask yourself: what could it take to change your stance 180 degrees on it? and in many cases overnight? ​

​​Things don't always go as planned, and at times, you get to a rift with someone you care about. Has happened to me, would've happened to you, and possibly to everyone (if you stood up for something). Now, do you be silent and reflect over it, while time gets you both over it? Or you go and talk it out like adults? Or you go outside (not even enough to cross their Wi-Fi range), unfriend them, block them, and feel good about it? I'm also not sure you'd feel good about it, and but where did you leave any room to correct it if you don't? Unfriending/blocking leaves no room for reconciliation. It is a dead end, where you take a hard decision on the outcome of your relationship. Not sure if you entirely realize in the moment, but the digital world gives you the power to close out things in a flash. It makes you very powerful. Very very powerful. Like giving you nukes, if you were a nation. No person will be killed if you use it, but the link will be dead and things will never be the same again. I don't admire Harry Truman (to put it politely), and wouldn't really admire someone using nukes when they're not needed, as well. Geo-politically, or in real life. ​

​Just like it's not nice to be on the negotiation table and be threatened to be bombed, it's not nice to be with someone who can argue with, only with an urge to go to their profile to see if you're "still" friends. You might argue it's all balanced as digital power gives both sides equal nukes, but if you're from a nation like India, you'll never use it yourself, while always being threatened to be a victim. It's nowhere ideal and takes away your liberty of speech. It is so important to be spending time with people, who you can discuss most things about the world, with room for debate and discussion, but not of instant judgement and e-nuking. And when I say free to discuss anything, it includes most social issues, including politics, and yes, Trump himself.

When do you unfriend someone? And if someone else unfriends/blocks you for no apparent reason to adult understanding, what do you think it tells about them? Feel free to share in comments. "No unfriending", is guaranteed.